MARCH FOR LIFE
Every year since the fateful Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973 legalizing abortion in our country, we have been called to reflect on the Gospel mandate to protect human life from conception to natural death. Although Roe v. Wade has been finally overturned, the struggle to end abortion in our country continues. So many people – including those claiming to be practicing Catholics – have bought into the lie about a woman’s rights over the child in her womb and are working to overturn the effects of the […]
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Have you ever glimpsed pure peace in another person? We see it as we gaze on a little baby while they are asleep. On rare occasions, we experience it in the presence of a particularly holy person. I have felt it on the occasions when I was privileged to be with Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II. Some people seem to exude peace. They are a blessing to be around. That must be what John the Baptist perceived in Jesus: a person whose very being manifested holiness and peace.
So, […]
RETURN TO ORDINARY TIME
As Christmas comes to an end with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord – which we celebrated this past Monday – we begin what the Church calls Ordinary Time. It is called “ordinary” because the weeks are numbered in order – 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. It is time – usually 33 weeks – ordered by God’s grace in between the sacred seasons of Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter. The priest wears green vestments. Our church’s Christmas decorations have come down and we all have returned to a […]
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
Last Sunday, we heard of the shepherds who visited the newborn son of Mary in the obscure village of Bethlehem. Today, we hear of the magi who come from afar to pay him homage. These familiar biblical Christmas stories that we hear during this holy season provide important lessons for us. They do so through the many unexpected events and characters. They hardly seem fit for a king, much less a god. It all begins with a poor young virgin who cannot possibly be with child, yet she indeed conceives […]
EQUIPPING EVERYONE TO SHARE OUR FAITH
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20). The last words of Jesus recorded in both Matthew’s and Mark’s gospels included the clear command to go to the ends of the earth and proclaim his gospel – the good news of our salvation through him. Since then, the Church has engaged in this important work and we are blessed to respond to […]
MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
“The Lord bless and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” What better way to begin the New Year than with this blessing? As we begin a New Year, we are all looking for God’s blessings on us and our world, the peace that only he can give us in the midst of the turmoil of this world. As we leave behind a year filled with wild […]
CHRISTMAS 2022
Once again, let me wish all of you a Merry Christmas. We can say that here because that’s exactly what we’re doing. Have you ever wondered what the word “Christmas” means? The word dates back to at least 1038, originating from the Old English phrase, “Cristes Maesse. It means “Christ’s Mass.” Today, we often use the terms “Eucharistic Celebration” or “Sacred Liturgy” to speak of the Mass. As you know, “Eucharist” means “Thanksgiving,” and every time we gather around our Lord’s Table, we give thanks to God for the great […]